A TRAINED station commander armed with 36 years of service as a police officer and a Master’s Degree in policing, the new acting station commander of Pinetown SAPS said he is ready to serve local communities in the fight against crime.

Colonel Ronnie Heeralall took over the reins at the station on an acting basis following the shocking sudden death of Brigadier Leon Matthysen in May this year.

Heeralall said he has always had a passion for serving people and that is why he joined the police service.

One of the highlights of his illustrious career – half of which was spent in uniform, whilst the other as a detective – was when he became a commissioned officer in 1994; his deed of commission was done by the late president Nelson Mandela.

“I was very fortunate to have our late iconic president sign my deed of commission,” said Heeralall.

Another moment of pride, he said, has been seeing detectives he headed at Pinetown SAPS and other units achieve great success and accolades that followed their stellar work.

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“This office has received accolades for members who have received awards for getting high conviction rates. All those members who received those accolades were working under my management,” said Heeralall with pride.

He has headed detectives’ units at Tongaat, Verulam and Plessislaer, a few of the stations Heeralall has served; and had the privilege of being at their helms where he also acted as station commander when required.
Heeralall is not new to the post of being a station commander at Pinetown, as he was previously appointed by KZN commissioner Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi to act as Pinetown station commander from April 2022 until August 2023.

“Currently again as the appointed acting station commander at Pinetown SAPS, I am very committed to ensuring effective service delivery to our communities,” said Heeralall, who is a firm believer in a multi-stakeholder approach to addressing crime.

“You cannot win in the fight against crime without involving communities and other stakeholders such as other law enforcement agencies like Metro Police, RTI, NPA, Department of Safety and Security, private security companies and also maintaining an active community police forum, CPF. That is how we have managed to maintain crime at an acceptable level,” said Heeralall.

The Pinetown policing area poses its unique dynamics, said Heeralall, because it is a business hub, with community members from surrounding areas such as KwaDabeka, Mariannhill, and Hillcrest, among others, flocking to it to carry out their affairs.

He added the Mariannhill Toll Plaza and the colleges in Pinetown contribute to the distinct policing needs in the station’s jurisdiction.

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“In Pinetown we always have these dynamics, which make our work go above the day-to-day policing of other stations. This is one of the most critical police stations in KZN,” said Heeralall.

As a way to destress from his demanding work, he said he goes to the gym or soccer practise, and in his spare time when enjoying a match of football, he always backs the underdogs.

“If the underdog wins, it is a big joy for me,” said Heeralall.

“I believe my experience on both sides, as a police officer in the visible policing environment and as a detective, will help me immensely because I can relate to the challenges of the foot soldiers on the ground and members working in different environments,” said Heeralall.

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